methocarbamol (Robaxin)

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

GENERIC NAME: Methocarbamol

BRAND NAME: Robaxin

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Methocarbamol is a skeletal muscle
relaxant with sedative effects. The exact mechanism of how methocarbamol works
is not known. Methocarbamol is presumed to work by depressing the central
nervous system, leading to relaxation of muscles. The FDA approved methocarbamol
in July 1957.

PRESCRIBED FOR: Methocarbamol is prescribed for the relief
of discomfort associated with painful skeletal muscle spasms.
Methocarbamol is also used for relief from tetanus spasms.

DOSING:

Musculoskeletal pain in adults:

Initially, take three 500 mg tablets by mouth 4 times a day for first 48 to
72 hours, then take 2 tablets by mouth 4 times a day for the maintenance of
spasms.

If using 750 mg tablets take 2 tablets by mouth 4 times a day for the first
48 to 72 hours, then take 1 tablet by mouth every 4 hours or take 2 tablets by
mouth 3 times a day for the maintenance of spasms.

The dose for injections is 1 gram intravenously or intramuscularly every 8
hours with a maximum dose of 3 grams per day for 3 days. If needed, the same
course may be repeated after a 48 hour drug free interval.